I figure there are two things when it comes to how pretty you are. Looks and appearance. Looks are what you were born with, and there isn't much you can do with that, plastic surgery (never something I will do unless I have a disease or disfiguring accident), aside. And I know my limitations when it comes to looks... Not quite the elephant man, but nowhere near George Clooney...

Appearance is completely within my control. And I can stay fit and work on my body and fitness, and be clean and try to smell good, etc. I haven't always been perfectly fit, but I have always stayed in decent shape. The last 9 months to a year, I have been getting into the best shape of my life and it is really showing in my body (and my face, actually, because I look more chiseled). It started because I fell as badly out of shape as I have been in years sometime last year after I suffered a nasty concussion and could barely walk without feeling dizzy for a month. I used it as an excuse to pack on weight -- right around the time some people from this board were visiting NY and saw me. I may not have seemed horribly overweight to them, but for me, that was pretty bad.

I don't know what motivates me--especially now that I have turned into a fanatic. I'd say women do, to a large extent, even if I don't get with many of them. I still get a thrill out of a woman flirting with me, though.

Ragu, I've had kind of the opposite experience. I moved to DC last year in the worst shape of my life. I found out it didn't matter much, though, because the ratio of single women to men here was working in my favor. I had no motivation to work out because I was doing just fine with the gut I had. Now that I have a girlfriend who acknowledges my gut, however, I am trying to get rid of it.

This might sound strange, but my newborn son makes me want to work out. I don't know why but ever since my wife was expecting I had this urge to get in the best shape I could. I'm still trying to figure out where that desire comes from. Is it because I want to be healthy and have a long life, or it spurred some early mid-life crisis or what? I can't explain it.

This might sound strange, but my newborn son makes me want to work out. I don't know why but ever since my wife was expecting I had this urge to get in the best shape I could. I'm still trying to figure out where that desire comes from. Is it because I want to be healthy and have a long life, or it spurred some early mid-life crisis or what? I can't explain it.

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Not strange at all. When I read the thread title, my daughter was the answer that popped into my head. Sure, I want to live a long and healthy life for myself. But I think most parents feel an obligation to do everything they can to ensure that they are around for their children as long as possible.

This might sound strange, but my newborn son makes me want to work out. I don't know why but ever since my wife was expecting I had this urge to get in the best shape I could. I'm still trying to figure out where that desire comes from. Is it because I want to be healthy and have a long life, or it spurred some early mid-life crisis or what? I can't explain it.

Click to expand...

Not strange at all. When I read the thread title, my daughter was the answer that popped into my head. Sure, I want to live a long and healthy life for myself. But I think most parents feel an obligation to do everything they can to ensure that they are around for their children as long as possible.

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Plus, while I don't have kids and can't speak from experience, the better your level of fitness, the easier it is to keep up with the little rascals.